Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-23
FOkTY-NIATH CONGRESS-.
Second Session.
WAEuTGcT,

The presiding officer presented a commun.
lcatlon from the secretary of the interior II
reply to resolution inqulring as to spy rats
IN the pension office denying hearing to an.
plicants who have applied to Congress for re
lief. The secretary enclosed copy of ,be
decision on that subject made by Assistsp,
Secre tarv jerks in February, 1886. and .avs
the matter had not been called to hi, stten
ton by appeal or otherwise; referred TO the
committee on pensions.
The following bills were reported from
the committee and placed on the calendar:
10 regulate the pay of officers of the army
aud navy who refuse or neglect to provide
for the support OF their family.
The presiding officer presented the follow.
ing
10 the Senate cf the United States:
Senators-My office as president BRO tenn.
pore of the Senate will necessarily termi
nate on the 4th of March, next, with NV
present term as senator. 1t will promote
the convenience of the Senate and the public
service to elect a senator as president pro
tempore whose term extends beyond that date
so that he may administer the oath of Office
to senaters-elt CT and aid in the organization.
l, therefore, respectfully resign that position
to take fleet at one o'clock Saturday next.
Feb. 26. Permit me in doing so to express
my heartfelt thanks for the uniform courtesy
and forbesrance shown me while in the dis
charge of my duties as presiding officer bv
every member of the Senate.
Very truly yours, JOHN SHERMAN.
The communication was ordered to be en-
tered in the journal and placed on file.
The resolution heretofore offered bv Mr..
Platt authorizing the select committee on
Indian traderships to take testimony during
recess was adopted
Mr.. Riddlebergcr offered resolution for
the publication of all papers and documents
en- the Senate files relating to the rejection
Of che nomination of James c Matthews as
recorder of deeds for the District of Column
bia; adopted
The Senate then, at 9 Is, proceeded to the
consideration Of the bill making an appropri-
alton for the expenses of the government of
the District of Columbia 1t was passed
without amendment or division.
The bill making provisions for the military
academy was passed
The bill to create department of agricult-
ure having been taken up, Mr.. Mcpherson
moved that it be postponed, and that the
joint resolution to investigate the Pacific
railroads be taken up; defeated-yeas 22,
navs33.
The bill went over as unfinished business
The Senate at sos went into secret session
and later adjourned isssa,-AsS FL IL {, / ( a,As,
s.Ns szs6S4: HOUSE.
The House met at II o'clock. ~ = s; 7ss;f
MIR. Bland of Missouri, as a privile ged
question, called up the vetoed bill increasing
the pension of John w. Fsrris. He bore
testimony from the personal know ledge of
the claimant to the merit of the clam and
asked that the House pass the bill over the
veto The House refused-l32 to 93.
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the consideration of the
amendments to the sundrv civil bill.
The recommendations of the committee on
appropriations were concurred in and the
committee having risen conference was or
dered on the disagreeing votes of the House.
Mr.. Bragg Of Wisconsin, from the com
mittee on military affairs, reported the bill
which is mentioned as a substitute for the
McAdoo bill to provide for the manufacture
of first class modern guns for the navy and
coast and other defences; referred to the
committee of the whole. The committee re-
port unanimously and say that while they
concur IN the wisdom of making provisions
looking to the system of public defense
which shall protect the seaboard and great
ldhcs III Cdec VI tOutiukSuCy VI war, WHlCH
the committee do not consider in any degree
imminent, they decline to adopt the proposed
bill, but recommend the substitute therefor,
which, in the judgment of the committee,
will fully meet all the present exigencies and
place the country in a position to readily and
quickly provide against all future exigercies
as they may arise. The report is largely
descriptive of the bill and defines the objects
of its provisions.
The House went into committee of the
whole for the consideration of the appropria-
ton bill and after contest as to the order
of business took up the Senate amendments
to the postoffce bill. The only amendment
upon which non. concurrence was recon-
mended is that appropriatiug S500,000 for
carrying foreign mails by American steam
ships to Southern and Central America and
the Empire of Brazil.
Mr.. Burroughs of Michigan, moved a con-
currence and spoke in favor of the amend
ment.
Pending further debate the committee rose
ard the House proceeded to consider the res
oluton expressive of regret at the death Of
Senator Pike of N. H.
Eulogies we're delivered by Messrs. Haynes
and Gallinger of New Hampshire, Long and
Rockwell Of Massachusetts, Holman of Ind,
Dingley of Maine, Cutcheon Of Michigan
and ~ = mark Of respect to the memory OF
the deceased the House At 4.35 adjourned.